Be Honest -- How Often Do You Test Parameters, and what do you test?

[Reefer Wannabe]

I realized I haven't tested for nitrates in a couple of months. I check my spec. grav. everytime I do a water change, and I checked my kH and calcium for the first time in several months a few weeks ago. On the average, I'd say every 6 weeks or so, I check something besided salinity. If things look healthy and are growing, I'm not testing. Not wise, I know. What about you all? Other than salinity, how often do you test any of your parameters? Which do you test regularly?

[JxMetal]

With the new tank I hope to test monthly at the worst. I already did my tests for this week.

[latazyo]

I test less than you do reefer wannabe...Im in the no test club too

[beapeams]

I test KH, Calcium, Nitrates and PH on a weekly basis, and I test Phosphates on a Monthly Basis. Sometimes I lapse a week, but have been fairly consistent.

[JxMetal]

I never tested the old tank. I had kits though! I just opened them all up this week.

[stlouisguy]

I actually use the test strips about every 5-7 days and if something looks out of whack or a bit off I will test then. Otherwise once a month or so

[sirreal63]

Every couple of weeks for everything. When I was dosing it was every other day. lol

[Im Lon 2]

Couldn't tell you the Last time I tested for ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite.


I try to test for CA, Alk, and Mag every month.

[geoxman]

twice a month after water changes Ca, and Alk, then adjust accordingly with the two part. I add 2 part about 90ml every day so it keeps pretty stable.
Iodine about once a month, I add quite a bit and like to keep it high.
PH is done with a PH meter.
Mag-once a month, then dose accordingly with Epsalt.
That is all I test for anymore.

[TWINPEAKS]

alk. cal. mag. once a month maybe ph is on a probe.

[Spiffyguy]

I am bad a rarely test but when I do it is nitrates, ca, and alk. I got a PH meter thing when I ordered my RODI. it does ph and tds. I use that sometimes too. Most of the time it is rock solid at 8.3.

[Paul B]

I tried to test nitrates yesterday just for the hell of it but my test kit from around 1979 or so was just powder.
I test to see if there is water in the tank and the temperature but thats about it. After some time you get to know what the test kit would read if you had one.
Paul

[JxMetal]

@ paul.

[latazyo]

n00b question : what is the importance of the magnesium test?

[Reefer Wannabe]

Originally posted by Paul B
I tried to test nitrates yesterday just for the hell of it but my test kit from around 1979 or so was just powder.
I test to see if there is water in the tank and the temperature but thats about it. After some time you get to know what the test kit would read if you had one.
Paul

I guess after some 35 years in reefkeeping you start to figure things out... By the way, I've enjoyed reading about your tank, and am VERY tempted to put an old bottle in my tank. I love that look. (That was YOU, right?)

[Paul B]

That was me..... eight times
But I like the can better

[Reefer Wannabe]

Be honest. With that one you were sitting by the tank with a brewski and too lazy to go throw it away, right?

That's great.

[Paul B]

No I found the Bud can underwater but a lot of the bottles I drank first. I had to empty them somehow
I am partial to Grand Marnier and Courvassier so there are quite a few of them in there. We have to recycle in my town
Here is one here. It looks kind of old, I guess I will go to the liquor store for a re fill

[inwall75]

Originally posted by latazyo
n00b question : what is the importance of the magnesium test?

Magnesium is very important at keeping Calcium or alkalinity from precipitating. For instance, when someone says they keep dosing Calcium but can't get it to stay there, it's often a Magnesium deficiency.


As far as testing myself, I had a salinity monitor and a pH monitor and one of these for an Ammonia Alert. http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...Product=SC4111

Calcium, Alk, and Mag where only tested before a water change.

[Mr.Firemouth]

I test for everything weekly in all tanks in the fish room.

Here is a list at where the results should be at...

* SALINITY:1.024-1.026s.g. Tested with hydrometer
Salinity can be as low as 1.021s.g. for fish only tanks

* PH 8.2-8.4 tested with high range test kit

* TEMPERATURE 76F-83F The key here is to stabilize the temp at a constant number like 79F.

* AMMONIA 0ppm Tested with a saltwater hobbyist test kit

* NITRITE 0ppm Tested with a saltwater hobbyist test kit

* NITRATE 0-10ppm Tested with a saltwater hobbyist test kit

* PHOSPHATES> 0-.03ppm Tested with a saltwater hobbyist test kit. WARNING! ALGAE BLOOMS CAN OCCUR IF PHOSPHATE LEVELS EXCEED 0.02PPM This can be controlled by using a phosphate resin.

* CALCIUM 380PPM-450PPM Tested with a saltwater hobbyist test kit
WARNING: LOW CALCIUM LEVELS WILL LEAD TO STUNTED GROWTH AND SEVERE HEALTH PROBLEMS IN CORALS AND CLAMS

* ALKALINITY 2.5-4.5meg/l Tested with a saltwater hobbyist test kit. ALKALINITY is a measurement of the systems ability to buffer itself. PH, ALK, CALCIUM are all linked and balanced together. You should strive to keep all levels stable and in balance.

* MAGNESIUM 1250-1350ppm Magnesium should be tested at least once a week and adjusted properly

* STRONTIUM, IODIDE, AND IRON should be dosed weekly per manufacturers directions OVERDOSING IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE!!! DO NOT OVERDOSE!!!

I also have a silicate test kit I use if any type of cyano pops up.

Hope this helps